. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
WT/MIN(11)/ST/48 
16 December 2011  
 
(11-6607) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Eighth Session Geneva, 15 - 17 December 2011 Original:   English 
 
  
ITALY 
 
Statement by Mr Amedeo Teti 
Director-General for International Trade Policy 
  
First of all, let me recall that Italy fully supports the statement delivered by the EU Trade 
Commissioner, Karel De Gucht, on behalf of the European Union. 
 
 The Eighth WTO Ministerial Conference takes place at a very difficult time for the world's 
economy.   In the present times of financial crisis and global economic uncertainty, WTO's role is 
increasingly important:  not only as a guarantor of a rules-based trading system and as a kind of 
insurance policy against rising protectionist trends, but also as an active instrument of international 
cooperation to settle trade disputes and create conf idence by promoting growth and development. 
  Nevertheless, in such a complex and delicate environment, WTO has to reflect on its work 
and above all on its future. 
 
 Italy believes that a joint effort of all Members is necessary to relaunch the DDA, in accordance with its mandate, building up on the resu lts reached so far and through an intermediate 
phase of consensus and an innovative approach.   It is indeed clear that, without a genuine willingness to move forward and to reach an 
ambitious, balanced and comprehens ive agreement on the basis of a Single Undertaking, we could be 
faced with the risk of a dangerous retreat from what  has been achieved so far.  We are particularly 
attached to substantial progresses on important issues such as NAMA, services and geographical 
indications.  NAMA is indeed an issue of paramount  importance for an industrial country like Italy.  
Geographical Indications are an innovative intellectual property right that protects not just an entity or 
a single product but the productions of our cu ltural identity and the tradition as a whole. 
  We cannot allow this deadlock to continue any longer and we cannot consider failure as an 
option.  It would have extremely negative re percussions on the credibility of WTO itself. 
 
 Italy wishes to maintain the development dimension at the core of the negotiating agenda and 
therefore strongly welcomes the adoption of the decisions on the LDCs services waiver as well as the review of LDCs accession guidelines and the exte nsion of the transitional period for LDCs to 
implement the TRIPS Agreement.   Today the WTO has the merit of opening its doors to the Russian Federation, Montenegro, 
Samoa and Vanuatu.  These countries are sending an important message of trust within the 
Organization and are showing willingness to share the common rules governing multilateral trade.  WT/MIN(11)/ST/48 
Page 2  
 
  Italy welcomes this opportunity to sincerely cong ratulate the new Members.  The accession of the 
Russian Federation is a result of the utmost importa nce for the WTO, an historic achievement that 
Italy has always strongly supported and reaffirms WTO's central role in the global trading system.   Italy also welcomes the conclusion of the ne w agreement on Government Procurement, which 
represents another important success achieved in th e margins of this Ministerial Conference, and 
hopes it will encourage and facilitate accession to th e Agreement by WTO Members that are not yet 
parties to it.   With reference to the future work of the Or ganization, Italy deems it necessary to ensure an 
early harvest on important issues such as trade fac ilitation and non-tariff barriers, that are extremely 
relevant for the internationalization of our SMEs.   The time has now come to roll up our sleeves!  It aly – as the rest of the EU – is still ready and 
willing to boost the DDA by giving trade the ri ght value it deserves in the global economy. 
 
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